General Shipping Instructions

Introduction

Transportation of Hazardous materials is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation. DOT regulations (49 CFR) apply to the transportation of goods in North America by air, highway, rail or vessel.
Shipments of hazardous goods by air domestically and internationally are regulated also by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) so that hazardous agents can be transported by air on commercial air transport.
IATA regulations tend to be more restrictive, so by following IATA regulations, you will meet or exceed DOT requirements.

Training

Mandatory for anyone offering, preparing for transport, packaging, or transporting dangerous goods.
Once every three years under 49 CFR, once every two years under IATA's Dangerous Goods Regulations, or as often as the regulations change.
Training Classes are offered annually at the University of Arizona. Contact Mark Grushka, Manager, Biosafety and Biosecurity for information how to receive training at 621-5279 or mgrushka@email.arizona.edu.

Nine Hazard Classes

Class 1. Explosives

Class 2. Gases

Class 3. Flammable Liquids

Class 4. Fammable Solids

Class 5. Oxidiing Substances

Class 6. Toxic and infectious Substances

Class 6.1 Toxic Solids and Liquids

Class 6.2 Infectious Substances

Class 7. Radioactive Material

Class 8. Corrosives

Class 9. Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

*Note if shipping by air, by following IATA regulations, you will meet or exceed DOT regulation. Refer to IATA's List of Dangerous Goods for packaging instructions. If you are not shipping by air, follow the DOT hazmat table in 49 CFR 172.101.

List of Dangerous Goods is located in section 4.2 of IATA's Dangerous Goods Regulations. It has instructions on how to ship certain materials. The list is not all-inclusive, but has many general names. The list has 14 columns, each of which provides specific pertinant information.

Understanding the IATA Table

Column A: Th ID# is the serial number assigned under the UN Classification system. When this number is used, it must be prefixed with UN.

Column B: Proper Shipping Name and Description: Alphabetical listing of dangerous goods shipping names in BOLD, description is in light type. Names can be singular or plural, and must be printed in English. The descriptions must be accurate.

Column C: Class or Division # assigned to the substance.

Column D. Contains the Class or Division # of any subsidiary risks.

Column E: Contains hazard labels to be applied to the outside of each package for the item being shipped.

Column F: Contains UN Packing Group Information.

PGI: Severe Degree of Danger

PGII: Moderate Degree of Danger

PGIII: Minor Degree of Danger

*Class 2, 6.2 and 7 materials do not have packing groups associated with them.

Column G: Contains the limited quantity packing instructions for transport on cargo or passenger aircraft. This column is a reference to a page in section 5 of the Dangerous Goods Regulation where specific packing instructions are listed. If there is no entry in this column, then the item cannot be shipped under the limited quantity shipping requirements.

Column H: Contains the maximum weight/volume that can be shipped.

Column I: Packing instructions in section 5 of Dangerous Goods Regulation for air shipping. If you see the word "Forbidden" then the substance cannot be shipped on a passenger aircraft, and the appropriate label must be on the package.

Column J: Contains the maximum net weight/quantity allowed for each package for shipping.

Column K: Packing instructions for cargo plane only. If "Forbidden" is in column, then the substance cannot be shipped on a cargo aircraft.

Column L: Max net weight per package on a cargo aircraft only.

Column M: Special Provisions for the material; this references section 4.4 of the Dangerous Goods Regulation. This column lists the exceptions to the regulations, as well as additional requirements for certain articles.

Column N: Emergency Response Guidance Code.

Shipper's Declaration

Shipper has to have a declaration that provides information on:
- Description and quantity of dangerous good
- Hazards present for safe transport as well as mitigating spills and leaks

Shipper must keep declaration on file for 375 days, and it must be readily available for any inspector.
Shipping forms are available from individual carriers, and each carrier has specific requirements on how the form is to be filled out.
Declaration must include:
- ID#, Shipping name, class, packing group (in that order)
- Total quantity of material
- Technical description
- Emergency phone number
- Shipper signature and date
- Transport details (passenger or cargo)
- Whether or not package contains radioactive material

Selecting a Package

Columns G, I and K of the list of Dangerous Good details this information.
Dangerous goods must be shipped in packages that have been tested and rated for the materials being shipped. Certified packages have a UN marking on them indicating what types and how much of materials they are certified for.
Packages have to have hazard labels as well as handling lablels.